Chapter 500 - Not meant to be

They spent more than three hours there but Harry did not put many words in between the chatter. He listened to them and ate his food quietly. He even clicked glass after glass of beer, pretending he was interested in their topic but truthfully he could not wait to leave.

But he couldn't. Not without raising their suspicion.

He let out a relieved sigh once he got into the car. He dropped his things on the passenger seat beside him and started the engine. Instead of driving the car away, he adjusted the temperature again before checked his reflection in the mirror. 

He still looked the same. He did not find any flaw. 

He frowned. He had never checked his face before. He did not think much as long as all five senses working perfectly. But this time, he felt compelled to always check his face, comparing his face with that man. He found nothing wrong with his face. So why wouldn't she consider him?

He rubbed his face and sighed again. He did not know what to do. Maybe he should ask her out and confess bravely. He could not expect her to understand his hint without making more effort to win her heart.

Yes, he nodded to himself. That was what he should do.

Without wasting any time, he reached for his phone and dialled her number. He put the gadget beside his ear and waited. His heart was even pounding hard as he waited for her to answer the call.

But there was no answer from her. She did not answer his call. He tried again... and again... and again. But still no answer.

His destination?

Ryn's new home.

He knew from her media social account that she has moved into a new house. Although she did not tell him or invite him to a housewarming party, he knew the location of the house. Well, more like he knew the neighbourhood. And he was heading there.

He did not get through the security guard because Ryn did not know of his coming. He parked outside and shut off the engine. He leaned against the car and tried to call her again.

But still, she did not answer it.

He ran his hands through his hair, sighing heavily. 

Ryn, where are you? Why aren't you answering my call? 

He stood there for several minutes before he gave up, got into his car and drove it away. 

*~*~*~*

Ryn scratched her arm absentmindedly as she walked to the door. Her feet brought her to the kitchen. Her stomach was growling from hunger as she skipped her breakfast earlier because of the 'argument' with Jeremy. 

The house was quiet so she thought he already went to work. It was half an hour past the afternoon after all. Surely he would go to the office... right?

But her thought was wrong. She stopped when she saw a familiar man sitting on the couch.

"J?"

He who was staring at his phone while resting his chin on his hands lifted up his head and looked at her. He pressed something on his phone before stood up and walked to her.

"You locked me out again," he accused.

"I... did?" she asked him back in a puzzle. She did not remember that part. All she could remember was that she was so pissed at him for throwing tantrum for no rational reason. She was exhausted and sleepy but had to think of a way to coax him. She did not have that much free time for that!

He went to her. Without warning, he pulled her until she almost fell against him. She put her hands against his c.h.e.s.t to stop the fall and looked at him, still confused. Was he punishing her for things she did not even remember?

"You locked me out again," he repeated bitterly.

She sighed. Her stomach was drumming even more from hunger but he was blocking her from her source of joy.

"Are you trying to make me angry with you?" he asked.

"I'm hungry," she stated calmly. She still managed to control her emotion and knew if she lost control, it would affect their relationship again.

It was as if he could not hear her. He cupped her face and kissed her roughly, pouring all his frustration, anger and hurt into it. He had been waiting for hours just to be with her but she treated him like this. He could not accept it. He could not accept any of it.

"Jeremy!" she pushed him away desperately and flung her hand across his cheek, slapping him loudly. 

His eyes widened as he looked at her in shock.

She rubbed her hurt hand and looked at him with her watery eyes. She could not believe what he just did. What did he think of her? 

"Get out," she spoke loudly, staring at him. "Get out of my house!"

"Catherine," he choked out.

Sniffling, she pushed him toward the door with all her might, "Get out. I don't want to see you. Leave me alone, Jeremy. Just get out."

He tried to stop her but had no clue where she gathered the strength, she managed to push him all the way to the door. Before he could get back into the house, she pushed the door close and locked it tight.

"Catherine, open the door!" he shouted from behind the door, knocking on the hard wooden door many times but was ignored. He knew it was useless to punch in the password when he heard the triple lock sound coming from her side. She used all those locks to lock him out... again.

"I will come back once you've calmed down," he muttered. Then, with a deep breath to calm down, he turned around and went to his car. 

She fell down and hugged her knees as she cried. What went wrong this time between them? She did not understand at all. Weren't they getting better now?

Maybe... just maybe this was not meant to be?

She did not know how long she had been sitting against the door, crying with her knees hugged tightly. She did not even remember the reason why she came out of her room. All she did the whole day and night was crying and crying and crying... just like when they just broke up that time. But this time, instead of her parents there to accompany her, she was alone. 

She was all alone in this house.

*~*~*~*

Harry rubbed his arching neck as he walked into the dining room. He murmured his greeting at his parents and little sister and took his seat.

"Angel is not having dinner again?" Mr Si asked his wife.

"No. She asked for her dinner to be sent into the studio," Mrs Si replied with a roll of her eyes. She tried to persuade her sister-in-law to take a break from all those painting and colouring but it felt like she was talking to a wall. Angela did murmur her 'hmm' and 'yes' but when Mrs Si expected confirmation of the agreement, Angel kept on working on her painting without stopping.

"When is the show?" Mr Si asked.

"Next month?" Mina replied. She was trying to figure out how to finish the meat when she was on diet. Her mother refused to let her skip any meat even though she had been trying to explain she needed to lose some pounds before next month.

"I will invite my friends to attend her debut," Mrs Si announced. She did not want her sister-in-law to face failure during her debut and would do anything to help, as long as Angela would live with them and behave herself.

"What's your plan tomorrow, Harry?" Mr Si turned his attention to his son. He knew his son was in the middle of a break and wanted to bring him to the office to introduce his son to the work. Of course, he needed to know his son's modelling schedule. It seemed like his lovely wife and daughter were really proud of Harry becoming a model. As a besotted husband, whatever his wife wanted, he would do it. And if his wife wanted their son to become a model, he would not go against it. But then again, Harry was their only son and it was his responsibility to inherit the company and all the responsibilities with it.

"I don't have anything yet," Harry replied truthfully. He did not plan to do anything actually. No. He actually planned to ask Ryn out. He did not believe Ryn would ignore him for days. He did nothing wrong at all for her to ignore him.

"Good. Tomorrow I want you to follow me to the office," Mr Si said with a nod.

"He's on his break, hubby," Mrs Si said with her eyes widened.

But he's planning to do his practical training in the office. It is not too early for him to get used to the environment, my love," Mr Si explained.

Mrs Si looked at her son. She could not argue with that as she understood what her husband was talking about.

"I will go with you," Harry said slowly. He did not believe he would have to spend the whole day in the office. His father only wanted to introduce him to the company. That's all. He did not have to stay there the whole day like his father.